Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?

Subject: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 03:32 AM

I recently began a new job as an English teacher at a Catholic high school. I've been decorating the classroom as best I can. On the right side of the chalk board I have my puzzle wall. Everything on that wall is associated in some way with literature. It includes a central display with a crossed spear and battleaxe, a horned helmet, and a war horn made of horn. There is a State of Maine Flag, a picture of a steamboat on the Mississippi, a picture of Mount Kilimanjaro, and a picture of the battle of Gettysburg.

On the left side of the board I have posters of the food fish of the Marianas Islands (I am in Guam), a poster showing how to protect sea turtles, one poster showing the Chamorro names for the different parts of the coconut tree, and one showing an Ifit tree.

The back wall of the room has been left to the students to decorate. There are floor to ceiling windows that run across the end of the room and half way down the back wall. At some point a predecessor put cardboard over the lower half of the windows. The kids have covered the cardboard in graffiti. The concrete wall is basically untouched though sticky notes have started to go up on it.

What I am looking for is ideas for the puzzle wall, funny little things to put in the room that will give it a slightly (Sinsull and Jacqui take note, I said SLIGHTLY) comical air. If the items also can be related to literature and composition so much the better.

So, your assignment, should you choose to accept it. Pore over the Internet to find those quirky little things. They need to be fairly cheap because I am a teacher not Nelson Gotrocks. Plus it is likely some of them may get stolen now and again.

So, whaddaya got?

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 10:29 AM

Be careful; your desire for bringing them entertainment may lead to repercussions notches above what you can imagine.

"We hear he planned all this on the internet." "He seemed like such a nice, quiet guy." "What was he thinking?"

No, it's not FAIR, but that's the world you're teaching in now.

~S~

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 01:18 PM

You didn't mention the age of your students but I am assuming they are high school students.

How about Far Side cartoons by Gary Larson? There are other cartoonists that can be featured. Its a good way to open discussion regarding point of view and critique. Try this page:

http://www.cagle.com/teacher/

I'm not sure how far you can go in a Catholic school but its also a good way to approach subjects that may be controversial.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 05:53 PM

Yeah..I would put up pictures of the Blessed Virgin and Pope John Paul II (the current one..nah..) and be done with it...mg

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Alice
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:22 PM

My son has a three dimensional puzzle of the Vatican. It's stored downstairs, as he put it together back in middle school. I'll ask him if he wants to part with it, but it may be hard to attach to the wall unless you glue all the pieces together.

Alice

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:36 PM

We are dealing with sophomores, i.e., 10th graders. As for religious pictures I was offered the job in the full knowledge that I am undeclared when it comes to religion. We start each class with prayer and I have assigned the students to do that job.

Susan, you are right about the Internet part but you are a few years too late. Teachers and school administrators recognize the beneficial side of the 'net. We all know we have to be careful and 'net safety is one of those side lessons we all teach, or are supposed to teach. Actually these kids are more savvy than people give them credit for. I started my year with a discussion of honesty and being honest with each other. Later we got into a discussion on drugs and they asked the question. I admitted I did drugs at one time and went on to say that meant I knew what I was talking about when I said they should not go there. It helps.

As for sex, the kids are fully aware. I would guess less than half of my students (remember these kids are 14 and 15 years old) are virgins. I overheard one girl advising another on the best condom to use. I have talked about safe sex in the classroom, being careful to use general terms and no specific suggestions. They already know it. They do not seem to have any embarrassment about it.

To get back to the topic at hand, I am not just putting stuff up for its entertainment value. As I see it the stuff in my classroom has to do two things. It needs to personalize the room and it needs to have some educational value even if it is subliminal.

Oh, and as for this being a Catholic school. Times have changed, ladies and gentlemen. The administration knows these are children on the cusp of adulthood. They do not try to hide too much from them. The religion does form the basis of the school's philosophy and mission yet the education takes center stage. The administration is secular though the owners are the School Sisters of Notre Dame based out of Germany. The regional headquarters are in Milwaukee.

What got me started on this thread was the problem Sinsull has been having with little nuns appearing in her house. It seemed like a good idea to do something like that if I could find a good supply of tiny nuns that I could hide in and around the classroom.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:44 PM

Alice, that would be great.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 09:27 PM

HMMMM I will give this some thought, Brett. What immediately came to mind was the David magnet set where you can dress him in everything from a formal tux to 50s greaser stuff. I have a Virgin Mary magnetic paper doll with a wardrobe and accessories.

What are you studying? We could come up with some silly iconic article for each state, put it up in a jumble and let them figure out the matches. So The Donald and NY would go together. A lobster and Maine. The Pepsi polar bear and Alaska. Oil well and Texas. Disneyland/Mickey Mouse and Florida. You get the idea.

Every one of my singing dancing jiggling whatevers has a story to tell. Set them around the classroom for a laugh.

Give us an idea of your curriculum and we'll come up with something.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Bert
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 02:38 AM

I think that in your situation I would try to find pictures and artifacts relevant to the books that you are studying in that semester.

A greater challenge to me would be WHAT books would I choose.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 08:14 AM

We are studying literature, supposedly world literature, but that is a misnomer. The text they gave me to work with does have a pretty fair distribution of short stories, poems, and dramatic pieces from around the world but the USA is represented too.

Early on they told me that college would give them content. We are supposed to work on giving them the skills they will need in college or whatever path they choose. I'm not entirely happy with that. I am trying to introduce them to as many authors as I can.

It would be great if we could come up with both funny and a literary association. Remember, they are kids. They don't like reading (for whatever reason) and they don't know how to use their brains.

I introduced this school year by pointing out to them that for nine years they've had data shoveled into them. In my classes I want them to participate in the learning process. To that end I explained to them about the standards to which I am supposed to teach. Before almost every new lesson I make a point of telling them which standard or standards we are working on. I think they appreciate it. Now someone is telling them WHY they have to study ABC and what they are supposed to get out of it.

One of the future plans is to work with them on La Belle Dame Sans Merci and The Highwayman and use Lorenna McKennit's recordings to let them hear an alternate way to present the material.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 12:58 PM

Hello,

Might be an idea to start the ball rolling with a few anagrams or similar word puzzles, then turn the wall over to the students and get them to make a contribution. I find that displays like this can generate great enthusiasm if they are changed frequently.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 01:35 PM

Oh! I like that idea Peter.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 01:53 PM

Some picture puzzles will work too, Brett. A cartoon which when examined carefully is the name of a book or character. I will send you some sample. I have one in front of me:
A Green van with a "Keep Off" sign on the rear. The side sign reads Gable's Van Service with a tree blocking the first letters (able's ans). Anne of Green Gables is the solution.

A humorous "If XYZ married XYZ their children would be named..." using characters and authors from the books.

Treasure hunt. I have done this one with my garden group.
20 questions. On the answer sheet, write the correct answers. The first letter of each answer spells out where the treasure is hidden. The treasure can be something as simple as a candy bar or a chest filled with bags of goodies for all to share. It is an exam for fun. Or do one per week and have wrapped boxes in the front of the room. Winner chooses a surprise.

Make sure you post the winner's answer sheet on the wall.

The key is to keep it all fun, accessible to all, and cheap.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 08:11 PM

I would ask the students to bring in things to discuss with the class. Interesting quotations, manipulative advertising, great lines from songs, anything in their own lives that caused them to think about language per se.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 08:52 PM

Shoot... Why not let it just become a collage of free association images that the kids "create"... The operative word here is create... That's the fun part...

Anything else an' you kinda have a specific outcome in mind and that in itself is inhibiting...

Jus' let the kids "create" this space with no rules other than the obvious considering you are teaching in a Cathlic school... There's still plenty of room fir the kids to do their own thing...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 09:06 PM

Bobert, that is a good idea. I like the notion of not inhibiting them. Unfortunately that's what I tried with the back wall and I wound up with a lot of names in graffiti style. I have one more wall I can give over to them but then I have to make up rules and that, as you say, is a limiting factor.

As far as your suggestion, Leenia, I'm not sure they are aware enough of the outside world to be able to do that. I'll give it a shot, though.

Sins, I am planning a Treasure Hunt mixing the Internet with the library. They will need to find things, some of which they can only find on the Internet, probably most considering the rather poor selection in our library.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 09:28 PM

Here's what you do, Naems...

You start it... Yeah, go to a yard sale and buy abunch of old magazines and look thru them ans cut out some wild stuff... You know, like a piccufre of Betty Crooker, for instance... The find a piccure of a fish 'er bird and then another of a toothpaste ad and just mix the 3 of them up... Then if after the 1st day no one brings in anything to add, throw in the headlines from the local paper about Stroker Ace winning the main feature at the local race track... Do this in some kinda compositional manner so that when taken collectively the "medium becomes the message"...

This is waht teaching is, afterall...

It may take a few days fir kids to fell as if they are ****free**** 'nuff to add to the collage on their own but once one kid figures it out the entire class will be right behind that one kid...

I promise you...

I did this when I was a 5th grade teacher and once the light came on, it was ***on***...

Give it a try... May take a week but it will get these kids looking thru ol' books and magizines...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:06 PM

14 and 15 year olds reading Anne of Green Gables? That just sunk in. It's a children's book. Are they not up to something a bit more challenging? Maybe 1984 or Lord of the Flies? Goody two shoes Anne must be barely tolerable to them and you.

Subject: RE: Classroom Decorating Help - Sinsull?
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:42 AM

I only used a descriptive paragraph to let them work out the different kinds of words. And it turns out it was too tough a test. The kids are pitiful when it comes to accumulated knowledge.

Today... no, I'll write today up in my Guam thread.